Unplanned climate change protests shut down five London bridges

Environmental protestors blocked five bridges in central London yesterday as they carried out ‘impromptu demonstrations’.

Transport for London first tweeted about the demonstration blocking Waterloo Bridge at around 10:30 on Saturday morning.

Eventually, the action group known as ‘Extinction Rebellion’ brought Lambeth, Westminster, Waterloo, Blackfriars and Southwark bridges to a standstill, causing havoc for anyone trying to get around this area of the capital.

Extinction Rebellion’s aim was to force the government to take climate change more seriously. Organisers claim more than 6,000 people were involved in the protests.

Police officers were forced to make more than 80 arrests during the demonstrations for a number of crimes, including ‘obstruction of the Highway Act, Bail offences and others’, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police. All those arrested were later released pending further investigation.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas tweeted her support for the protestors, expressing ‘solidarity with all those peacefully resisting species extinction’.

The demonstration then moved to Parliament Square where the activists, ‘in open rebellion’, planted trees in the green.